Rainy start in Big Island
I started my stay on Big island in Hilo on the rainy east coast
Short hike through the jungle of big island to get to a hidden bay
Still raining but no people on this hidden bay
View on the ocean from the scenic byway
Finally some blue sky at Laupahoehoe Beach park
Views from the Waipiʻo Valley Lookout
View from the Pololū Valley Trailhead - ready to walk down the 15 min trail to the beach and forest area
Black Sand beach at Pololū Valley
Quick stop at the Puʻukoholā Heiau National Historic Site - some temples and ruins of the first king of the Hawaiian islands from the 1700s
On my first day in Big island I tried to escape the rain by driving to the north of the island. Just shortly after Hilo I drove the scenic byway and stop at a small trailhead next to the road to walk 20min to a hidden bay.
a couple minutes further north I finally escaped the rain and got rewarded with a lot of sun to visit some nice places along the cost.
The highlight was definitely the Pololu Trail and beach! The view from the top and the hike down was truly magical.
I finished my day trip at the Puukohola Heiau National Site(It has the only ruins of the last major Ancient Hawaiian temple and marks the beginning stages of the Hawaiian kingdom). Afterwards I head back to the hostel and got ready for Karaoke night at the only pub in Hilo
Details
- Trip: 2025 Big Trip
- Date: Sept. 10, 2025
- Location: East cost - Big Island, HI
